Pillow with concealed play surfaces

ABSTRACT

A plush pillow toy in any number of shapes comprised of two fabric covered or molded cushioned members or a single fabric covered or molded folding cushioned member, that when opened or unfolded, form a play area roughly double the size of the original pillow. The interior is revealed when the two cushioned members or single folded member of the original pillow are opened, unfolded, or otherwise separated, forming a playing surface or terrain for small toys, figures, or any number of accessories. A flap or other hinge apparatus may be used to hold the two cushioned members of the pillow structure together. The hinge apparatus may be designed to disengage the two members to allow the two members to be used independently. A zipper, hook and loop, or other means of fastening is used to hold the two members or single folding member of the pillow in the closed pillow configuration. The fastening apparatus may be comprised of a single point, multiple points, or a complete perimeter fastening apparatus. When unfastened, the two members or single folding member, open to reveal the interior plush play area or terrain. The opened play environment may be roughly double the size of the original pillow, and may include small plush landscape details, buildings, hills, or other environmental or terrain attributes as part of the play area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pillow toy that is comprised of two cushioned members joined with a hinge and fastening system, or a single folded cushioned member and fastening apparatus, allowing the pillow to open or unfold revealing a play environment. When in the closed position, the invention functions as a pillow. When in the open or unfolded position, the two members or single unfolded member may lay flat or nearly flat, revealing an interior play environment or terrain for use with other toy vehicles, figures, or other novelties. The play areas may then be closed or refolded to return to the original pillow configuration.

2. Description of Related Art

It can be appreciated that convertible plush toys have been in use for years. Typically, the plush toy will change from a plush object into a stuffed toy of some kind and back again, invert on itself to change from a pillow to an animal or character, feature integral storage pockets, or include some kind of attached blanket system. Previous plush toy designs created to offer a play environment have not opened completely to lay flat, rather some of the pillow is designed to mimic a skyline or otherwise attached standup scenery and is designed to remain in an upright position while the bottom half of the play set it utilized.

There have been several variations on the convertible plush toy, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,159 to Hills et al. discloses a toy convertible to multiple configurations, specifically one in which a pet carrier transforms from a plush character to a carrying case. U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,075 Park demonstrates how a plush toy can be reconfigured by shifting the interior stuffing material from one section to another. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,369, Spector, defines a method for which a pillow may serve a dual purpose as both pillow and comfortable bed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,512 Burnett et al. discloses a method for having a decorative pillow and soft human-like doll within a single toy, utilizing pockets and elastic bands to engage the doll.

A pillow or toy that is configurable between two shapes through altering the shape and manipulation of the interior materials has been demonstrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,938 Reynolds. This toy changes from a globe shape into a stuffed toy through manipulation of the internal stuffing material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,399 Reynolds demonstrates a method for again transforming a plush toy from one shape to another, with the theme of the two items relating to sports activities.

A pillow with an internal hiding space is revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,421 Faircloth et al., demonstrating the ability to create a pillow or plush toy with internal cavities for storing of small toys with a themed exterior shell.

Thus, there is a need for a plush play set that opens flat, and the exposed interior surfaces of the pillow are designed as play surface, with integrated terrain and environmental details, typically for use with other small toys such as toy vehicles or figures. There is a need for a convertible pillow toy that is in itself not the toy, but rather is the play surface, that may include but is not limited to, plush elevations, terrain details, structures, or other environmental elements. This multifunctional stuffed or plush toy provides up to double the play surface of original folded or closed pillow configuration, and can be designed to feature any number of environmental or terrain features, including, but not limited to, hills, valleys, structures, buildings, riverbeds, etc. Prior art demonstrates the ability to store items inside of a plush cushion or pillow, or change the configuration of the plush from a cushion or pillow into an animal or character. It is the intention of the present disclosure to provide a plush cushion or pillow that can be configured into a play space including, but not limited to, terrain, buildings or other environmental details, for use with other toys, play vehicles, or figures.

Furthermore, there is the additional feature to detach the two pillow halves to join other play sets to form a larger play space or allow for the two halves to be used independently.

Furthermore, this invention's design, utilizing a plush interior surface of the two pillow halves allows the play surface, environment, or terrain to include more realistic details, including elevations, than other mat-type play sets that utilize a flat printed play surface.

It is the object of this invention to provide a child with a pillow that can be of any number of shapes or themes, which when unfolded, reveals an interior play environment. The interior of the pillow may be themed to a character or the shape of the exterior design of the pillow to further enhance the play value of the pillow and play environment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a child with a readily portable play environment, which can be used as a pillow when not being used as a toy.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a child with a pillow or cushion of any shape, including but not limited to, round, rectangular, vehicles, humanoid figures, animals, licensed characters, or other novelty shapes, that when unfolded, reveals an interior play environment or terrain.

The pillow configuration is made up from two cushioned members, each of which forms approximately half of the overall pillow configuration. Alternatively, the cushion or pillow may be constructed as a single folding cushioned member. The cushioned members are filled with a cushioning medium. The cushioned members may have a flexible fabric cover, or alternatively the cushioned medium may be colored, dyed, printed, molded, or otherwise decorated to impart the details of the intended design. One side of the cushion or pillow designed to be used as a pillow surface, while the opposite side is molded, textured, stuffed, or otherwise designed as the terrain or environment of the play set. The terrain or environment play surface of the pillow is revealed when the two cushions are opened or otherwise separated, or when the single cushioned member is unfolded.

In the configuration utilizing two cushioned members to form the pillow, the two members may be connected with a hinge flap or other hinge apparatus to allow for the two cushions to open or separate. This hinge apparatus may be permanently attached or removable to allow the two cushions to separate.

Alternatively, the two cushions may be configured to attach utilizing only a fastening apparatus, thereby having no hinge apparatus and rather allowing the two members to separate independently to form the open play area.

A fastening apparatus is utilized to keep the cushion or cushions in the folded or closed position when the toy is in the pillow configuration. This fastening apparatus may consist of a single point fastener, multiple point fasteners, a perimeter fastener system such as, but not limited, to a zipper or hook and loop, or any fraction thereof around the perimeter cushions by which to retain the cushion or cushions in the closed position.

The play area revealed when the cushion or cushions are opened, separated, or unfolded may be designed to interlock when in the closed position, or the compression characteristics of the cushioning medium may be utilized to allow the open play area return to the pillow configuration, thereby allowing the terrain or environment to compress on itself when closed.

The interior play set may include hills, small buildings, valleys, and other environmental or terrain details. When in the closed position, the toy will function as a pillow. When in the open position, the toy will function as play environment or terrain for use with smaller toys, figures, or other objects. The interior may be used to store small toys, although this is not the primary function of the invention.

In one embodiment of this invention, the pillow is in the shape of a tire, decorated in plush materials to mimic the appearance of a tire, roughly round in shape, hinged on one side, and fastened closed on the side opposite the hinge with a hook and loop flap. When the hook and loop flap is disengaged, the two halves of the pillow open along the hinge, allowing them to lay flat. The interior surface revealed when the pillow is opened is a plush race track, complete with small jumps and turns. The interior material is designed to mimic the appearance of a race track. A child could play in the interior play space with small vehicles, figures, or other toys, and return the toy to the pillow configuration by folding the two halves together and securing with the hook and loop fastener.

The present invention may be used to provide a themed or licensed character pillow for a child to use for sleep, travel or play.

A second advantage of the present invention is the interior play space provided when the pillow is opened. This interior play space may be used with existing toys, such as cars or figures. Although not the primary function of the invention, these smaller toys could be stored inside the pillow for travel or storage when not in use.

An additional advantage of the present invention is the ability to use a removable hinge apparatus, which would allow the joining or combining of multiple pillow environments into an even larger play space.

An additional advantage for portability may be the inclusion of a carry handle or other device to facilitate travel while in the stored pillow configuration.

Among the advantages of this invention over prior art is that the open interior configuration of the play environment may be used with other toys, vehicles, or figures, using the open pillow as a unique terrain or environmental play space. This invention's pillow halves open or otherwise unfold to lie flat, giving a child up to double the area of the original pillow configuration on the interior environment. For instance, other plush toys that change configuration often transform from a pillow to a stuffed animal, or may only open to 90 degrees, limiting the play choices. This invention is intended to provide a pillow when closed, and when open, a larger play environment that may be roughly double the size of the original pillow, and provide a child with the terrain and environmental details for use with additional toys such as cars or figures.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to it's preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, however, the drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made concerning the construction and configuration of said invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of the invention in the pillow or cushion configuration.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention in the pillow or cushion configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in the open or unfolded configuration.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the two halves of one embodiment of the invention in the closed or folded position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, utilizing a single cushioned member in a folded configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, utilizing a single cushioned member in the unfolded or open position.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of a second embodiment of the invention utilizing a single cushion member in folded or closed position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention, utilizing multiple fastening points to retain the cushioned members in the pillow configuration.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention, utilizing a perimeter fastening system.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention, utilizing a detachable hinge apparatus allowing two or more cushions to be connected from different toys.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Nomenclature

-   1. upper cushioned member -   2. hinge apparatus -   3. lower cushioned member -   4. combined pillow and play environment -   5. fastening apparatus -   6. fabric outer covering for cushioned members -   7. play area designed on one side of cushioned member -   8. cushioned member -   9. cushion medium -   10. zippered perimeter fastening system -   11. detached cushioned member

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention, a plush pillow 4 comprised of two cushioned halves containing a cushioned medium, an upper 1, and a lower 3, are secured by way of a hinge apparatus 2 and held closed by way of a fastening apparatus 5, that is themed and may match an interior play environment. The exterior of the cushioned halves may be fabric covered 6 to resemble any number of themes or characters. The two cushioned halves may be of any number of shapes, including, but not limited to, round, rectangular, square, spherical, or resembling a character or vehicle. The exterior 6 of the cushioned halves may be decorated, dyed, or otherwise colored to create a themed exterior if a fabric covering is not utilized. When closed as shown in FIG. 1, it may be used as a pillow. When the fastening mechanism 5 is opened, released, unfastened, or otherwise disengaged, the pillow 4 will unfold, separate, or open, allowing the upper 1 and lower 3 halves to separate. Referring to FIG. 3, the interior of the two halves is exposed, revealing the interior play area 7, which ideally would be themed to match the exterior 6 of the pillow. The pillow 4 could be easily refolded, closed, or otherwise returned to the pillow configuration, and secured using the fastening apparatus 5. Referring to FIG. 4, the interior construction 7 is designed to fit within itself when the invention is the closed position, and may be contoured to allow one half to fit into the shape of the opposing half, or utilizing the compression capabilities of the cushion materials, the terrain may compress or collapse into the interior of the two cushion halves when in the closed or folded position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the pillow is constructed of a single cushioned member 8 that utilizes a folding action rather than a hinge apparatus. The exterior of this cushioned member in the preferred embodiment would be covered in a fabric covering 6, and may be decorated as seen in the drawing. The folding action is used to change the pillow from the pillow configuration FIG. 5, to the open play area configuration as shown in FIG. 6, thereby revealing the play area 7. A fastening apparatus 5 may be used to secure the cushion in the closed pillow configuration. Referencing FIG. 7, the play area of the toy may be compressed into the center of the pillow when in the closed configuration, and may be held closed in the preferred embodiment of this invention by a fastening apparatus 5.

Referencing now FIG. 8, a third embodiment of the invention. In this configuration, the two cushioned members are secured using multiple fastening points, rather than a hinge apparatus and fastening configuration. In this configuration, the two cushioned members may be separated and used independently or in conjunction with additional cushioned members from a different set.

Referring to FIG. 9, a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this configuration, the two cushioned halves of the pillow, upper 1 and lower 3, are secured around the perimeter utilizing a zipper 10. This embodiment of the invention would provide a more secure storage option than a single point fastening apparatus.

In reference to FIG. 10, a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the two cushioned members utilize a detachable hinge apparatus, which allows the two members to be separated and used individually 11, or attached to a member from a different toy set, thereby extending or changing the play area of the original toy.

In this manner, a child could use this toy as a pillow, and open the pillow to allow for play within the interior play environment. When not in use, the toy could serve as pillow or room decor. Alternatively, the pillow toy may be used as a portable travel play system, providing a child with a travel pillow and portable play environment. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of: a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters b) a fabric covering c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members d) a single point fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened e) internal cushioning medium 2) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, comprised of: a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed b) a fabric covering c) a fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened d) internal cushioning medium 3) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, comprised of: a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters b) a fabric covering c) a detachable hinge apparatus that allows the two cushioned members to be separated d) a fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened e) internal cushioning medium 4) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, comprised of: a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters b) a fabric covering c) a fastening apparatus designed to retain the two cushioned members in the pillow configuration, and allows the two members to separated to reveal the play area. d) internal cushioning medium 5) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of: a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters b) a fabric covering c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members d) a perimeter fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened e) internal cushioning medium 6) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of: a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters b) a fabric covering c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members d) a multi-point fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened e) internal cushioning medium 7) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, comprised of: a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed b) a fabric covering c) a perimeter fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened d) internal cushioning medium 8) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, comprised of: a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed b) a fabric covering c) a multi-point fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened d) internal cushioning medium 9) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, wherein the shape of the cushioned member is designed to resemble an object, not limited to but including, characters, structures, alpha-numeric characters, flora, animals, or geometric shapes when in the closed pillow configuration. 10) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 2, wherein the shape of the cushioned member is designed to resemble an object, not limited to but including, characters, structures, alpha-numeric characters, flora, animals, or geometric shapes when in the closed pillow configuration. 11) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, that when detached from the hinge or fastening apparatus, may be combined with a cushioned member from another combined pillow play area toy. 12) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, that when detached from the hinge or fastening apparatus, may be used as a standalone play area or cushion. 13) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 1, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 14) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 2, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 15) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 3, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 16) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 4, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 17) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 5, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 18) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 6, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 19) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 7, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 20) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in claim 8, that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 